Spring weather brings out the social mood in everyone

I find myself staring longingly out of my office window these days at blue skies and cool breezes.

With weather this nice, it seems unfair not to be able to go to the beach every day.

But we make do. With more daylight in the evenings, we take the boys outside after supper to play catch and chase. We spend the weekends touring parks and visiting friends. The weather seems to be putting everyone in a social mood.

Even cleaning the house doesn't seem so bad with the windows open and the air-conditioning off.

This week, I have a request for you, but then a couple of ideas to help you make the most of this beautiful spring.

If you haven't taken a ride yet on the Schooner Lily in Stuart, you should.

And this is coming from someone who usually gets seasick just looking at a boat.

The Lily, a double-masted barge, sails daily from the Stuart Riverwalk through July.

Owners Fred Newhart and Jamie Miscoski — anyone who's been on the boat knows them as Capt. Fred and First Mate Jamie — love their boat and love to show people a different view of the St. Lucie River. They also are pretty good musicians.

"Horticulture" magazine named McKee as one of 10 inspiring gardens to have opened in the past 10 years, lauding it for its diverse array of plants and historic structures.

McKee is the last 18 acres of McKee Jungle Gardens, which opened in 1932 and was one of Florida's most-visited tourist attraction for 40 years. The tour gives you details about some of that history.

Instructions for the tour are available the entrance to the garden at 350 U.S. 1 in Vero Beach. General admission is $9 adults, $8 seniors and $5 children ages 3 to 12, and the garden is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.